Sometimes you take photographs that are not really bad just sort of meh – right? You feel there is something good there and you don’t want to let that photo go without a fight. I asked myself, how do you rescue a bad cat photo?
Table of contents
Ways To Improve a Cat Photograph
You can remove red eye
There are times when you get ‘pet eye’ or red eye as it appears in humans. That
You can remove this by using one of the many software packages like Photoshop Elements (PSE), GIMP, and Affinity Photo. These are all packages I have used successfully. None of the software packages is hard to use and YouTube has friendly tutorials to help you fix a pet’s glowing eyes. If this is the only thing wrong with a great photo give red eye removal a try.
Crop Your Image For Success
This is one of the best cat photography ideas and it’s something you must not forget that you can do. Simple, easy and effective.
Cropping doesnt just cut off big chunks of photo, it is a tool that can be used with delicacy and precision. This can mean taking off a small amount of one side or the top or bottom.
If there is a lot of empty space, or the picture element is unbalanced by being too far to one side you can use the rule of thirds measure that automatically appears when you start to use the crop tool.
Careful cropping is useful if your photography will be shown in
Disguise a Photo Fail with a Filter
I am a big fan of filters. Partly because you can have a lot of fun and partly because they can transform a failure into a triumph.
I used Photo Lab for this photograph (paid) but there are plenty of free, or trial versions of photo editing software online. I discovered that there are several sites where you can edit online, then save and share. In 2022, the arrival of AI adjustments has transformed the smartphone into a powerful camera accessible to many.
These two photographs disguise the error by disguising it and drawing the viewer’s attention elsewhere.
The Photo Lab Heart Bokeh filter (above) has a touch of romantic sweetness to it while the Sketch filter (below) has a more dramatic effect. The filter has the added bonus of adding definition to the tones of fur colour. Both filters highlight Pan’s beautiful eyes and draw your attention to them, with or without colour. The mistake in the corner no longer exists and don’t forget you can also crop your image then add a filter as well.
Add T ext or a Watermark
My final cat photography idea to disguise a photo mistake is to put something relevant on top of the area you want to hide.
You have two quick to use options,
- Use a block of colour then add text or your watermark,
- or, boldly splash your watermark across to cover a mistake.
Review, Repair and Rescue
You just need to analyse which quick and simple method will work best so you can show off your image on social media, or add to a blog post.
Don’t give up without trying a few of these options. I bet you have just the picture to experiment with somewhere in your photo library.
Photograph Editing Resources
- PiZap Online editing or an app for iPhone or Android
- Edit online with UpperPix new kid on the block and versatile.
- Lunapic popular with bloggers and an effective filter tool
- Photoshop Elements – a little sister program that avoids Photoshops monthly subscription.
- Affinity Photo – for Mac and most importantly for iPad
Marjorie
Marjorie is a motorbike riding blogger and award winning cat photographer who believes that everyone can shoot and edit wonderful pictures they love regardless of the camera they use.
She is a Professional member of the Cat Writers Association, Kuykendall Image Award winner and published photographer at the Guardian newspaper.
Cropping and/or effects can save most photos for sure.
I love the filters that you chose for Pan! He is such a handsome mancat. The sketch filter really focuses in on those gorgeous eyes. Great ideas!
Thank you for the insight. I always need to use some type of filter or editing program for the photos I take indoors because I have very little natural light.
These are great tips for saving any photo – love the info and actually plan to use it a little bit later this week!
That sketch filter is really cool. I always forget editing photos is a thing. I like to point shoot and post. But since Plush is a faceless furball without lighting adjust I’m learning. Definitely going to try that sketch filter and turn him into a work of art.
I don’t use filters very often but maybe I should start! I try to take lots of photos so I have a variety to choose from.
Pan is so handsome that I didn’t even notice the overexposed corner at first. I love all of your rescued photos!
Thanks for the great tips. I often crop photos and have rarely used red-eye reduction or sometimes use a filter to get things brighter, but these were just in Microsoft or Adobe photoshop. I’ll have to try some of your other tips.
These little fixes are great for a novice like myself. I’m still a work in progress with photos. Sometimes lighting is perfect but most times it’s awfully dark. My favorite tip you mentioned was using IG filters to fix mistakes. Very clever! Thanks.
I use Pizap to try salvage some of my lousy photos but most of the time I delete them but have come to the conclusion and learning from you I have a lousy camera LOL and need to get a new one one of these days.
We all have these! Happy Gotcha Day to Harvey!
Thanks for the tips. It is always good to be able to save a not quite good enough photo. I like that sketch filter.
That’s some great info and will really help save some of those photos we really love! Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!